Feeding predetermined charges to traveling molds



Oct. 22, 1940.

FEEDING PREDETERMINED CHARGES T0 TRAVELING MOLDS Filed Aug. 11.' 193'/ 4 Sheets-Sheet l Alf' l i ATTORNEY INVENT R dang .esuyk 4 Sheets-Sheet L. H. DEVWYK ET AL FEEDING PREDETERMINED CHARGESl PO TRAVELING HOLDS Filed Aug. 11. lm

.Illl

' der. 22, v1940.

L. H. DE wYK ET A. 2,218,527

FEEDING PREDETERMINED CHARGES TO TRAVEL-ING MOLDS Filed Ag. 11, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS,

ATTORNEY Oct. 22, 1940. l.. H. DE wYK Er AL 2,218,527

FEEDING PREDETERMINED CHARGES TO TRAVEL-ING MOLDS Filed Aug. 11. 1937 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED sTATEs FEDING PREDETERMINED CHARGES TO TRAVELING MOLDS Ludolf H. `De Wyk, Ansonia, and Ludolf H. De

`Wyk, Jr., Shelton, Conn., assignors to The Sponge Rubber Products Company, Shelton, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application August 11, 1937, Serial No. 158,468

' Y 18 Claims. (01.18-10) "This invention relates to the art of and to apparatus for converting a bulk supply or replenishable batch of plastic material into a continually traveling sheet of said material having pre- 5"' determined cross sectional dimensions and unlimited length, and to the contemporaneous and continuous feeding of"such"converted form of material into a cavityvor `cavities of traveling molds, and particularly concerns the automatic l segregating of separate charges of material from such sheet and the simultaneous depositing of such charges in respectively different cavities of the molds or carriers as an operation continuous with the passing travel thereof. I` One object of the invention is automatically to prepare and deliver material, of the nature of sponge Vrubber compound, to cavities of traveling molds in a heat treating machine of the molding and vulcanizing type, one example of 2o which is partially disclosed herein, and more fully illustrated andl described in the co-pending application of Ludolf I-I. De Wyk, Serial No. 111,769, as well as in` U. S. Patent No. 2.200,- 262, granted May 14, 1940, to F. M. Daley et al. 25 Another object is toprovde means automatically t`o control and predetermine the volumetric size of the charges of sponge rubber compound or other plastic material so delivered to the mold cavity or cavities `in order to insure that a uniformA amount of space is `pr'ovided within the traveling mold cavity for progressive expansion of theymaterial during its heat treatment so that a uniform and controllable degree of porosity will be produced throughout the body of the s?) material inthe fully vulcanized condition in which it leaves the machine. e

A further object is to vconvey a Ksheet of "stretchable plastic material having a naturally 4soft and sticky surface, Without stretching or distorting thesame during its travel from the supply batch `to the point of delivery of segregated charges of the calendered material to the cavities in the traveling carriers.

the foregoing objectives with minimum requirement Vforattention by the operator of the l machine so that labor cost involved in the coni general object of these improvements is to. 4;, provide an apparatus capable of carrying out for cooperating therewith, thus to permit change of molds in the machine or independent servicing of either the machine or the apparatus, or use of the same feeding and severing apparatus with different machines as well as replacement 5 of a given apparatus on a given machine by a different feeding and severing apparatus.

The foregoing and other important objects later to be mentioned are accomplished by methods and apparatus described in detail in the following specification in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of that portion of the improved feeding and severing apparatus which is immediately attached to and supported .by the material receiving end of the molding and vulcanizing machine of the coi-pending application or issued patent hereinbefo're referred to and shows certain parts of the said vulcanizing machine, partially in section on plane I--I in` Fig. 3.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking from the left at Fig. 1 and further shows a calender in side elevation, 'by means of which bulk supplies of the material are continually converted into the traveling sheet of material, parts of the calendering machine appearing in section on the plane 2--2 in Fig. '7.`

Fig. 3 is a View in similar elevation taken on the section planes 3--3 in Fig. 1 looking in the 30 direction of the arrows, the heat retaining jacket which encases the molding and vulcanizing machine being removed to expose details of the power drive for the machine and for the feeding and severing apparatus.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the plane 4-4 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view drawn on the same scale as Fig. 4 and is taken in section on 40 the plane 5-5 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows showing details of the watercooled feeding and severing roller and parts cooperative therewith including one of the cavity containing mold sections which cooperate with said roller in their travel.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view on a still further enlarged scale looking at the water-cooled roller and some of its cooperative parts in a direction toward the approaching sheet of plastic material from a point of view above the mold cavities and at the right side of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the calender partially 55 in section on the plane 'I-'I in Fig. 2, certain parts being broken away.

Fig. 8 is a laterally contracted fragmentary sectional View on a much enlarged scale showing at the left side, the cooperating relationship of a mold setcion of the lower train with a corresponding mold section of the upper train on the section plane 8 8 in Fig. 1 and showing at the right side, the cooperating relationship of a mold section of the lower train with one end portion of the water cooled roller on the section plane 5-5 in Fig. 1.

For convenience of reference, the parts of a vulcanizing and molding machine with which the improved feeding and severing apparatus may be novelly combined are designated in the drawings by the same reference characters by which they are designated in the drawings of the co-pending application hereinbefore referred to. Additional details of the molding and vulcanizing machine are fully illustrated and described in the said co-pending application.

Ill indicates one of the legs which may support the moldingand vulcanizing machine whose frame includes two upper channel beams I8 extending lengthwise of the machine in spaced and parallel relation and suspended from transverse angle strips I4. Opposite ends of strips such as I4 are supported at spaced points lengthwise of the machine in vertically adjustable position by upwardly extending .threaded posts I3 rigidly anchored at their bottom ends in two lower channel beams I2 respectivelyl aligned with and positioned below the beams I8 and resting on a series of legs such as II).

Supported in bearings 52 at the material receiving end of the lower portion of the molding and vulcanizing machine is the transversely extending shaft 4'I which, at respectively opposite sides of the machine, carries fixed thereto two flanged wheels 48 freely rotatable so that their make roomfor the feeding and severing apparatus of these improvements. Shaft I9 carries fixed thereto two flanged wheels 20 adapted for rotation so that their peripheries may move in unison with links 45 of the laterally spaced upper chains which are respectively looped about said peripheries.

To each of the links 'I5 of the lower chains is fixedly secured by screws 8'! one end of a mold section 'I9 extending crosswise the machine to bridge and be carried by the Atwo lower chains of links, each section 'I9 containing adjacent mold cavities extending lengthwise of the machine. To each of the said links 45 of the upper chains is xedly secured by similar screws 8'! one end of a mold section 'I8 correspondingly disposed, which may have correspondinglydisposed mold cavities v92.

The mold cavities 92 both of mold sections 'I8 and 19 may accord or be different in size and shape, but preferably register with each other when the mold sections of the upper and lower chains come together as at the right side of Fig. 4. The chain links are interconnected by pivotal pins '|'I having .centers spaced in relation to the width of the mold sections in the way and for the purpose set forth in the aforesaid copending application. Each link 'I5 further has secured to it by similar screws 8'1 a block 83 carrying gear teeth 84, and each link 45 has secured to it by similar screws 8'I a similar block 83 carrying gear teeth 84. These blocks `are so arranged that the teeth 84 Vcomprise :in .effect a continuous traveling rack along the straightaway stretches of the chain.

In Fig. 3 means are shown for driving all chains of links at uniform speed as in the machine of the aforesaid co-pending application, such means comprising two spur gears |I5, one at each side of the machine, constantly in mesh with the rrack teeth 84 on the blocks of only the lower chain links l5, and fast to the upper end of vertical shafts I Il respectively, which have bearings ||9 at the top and |23 at the bottom thereof carried by the machine frame. Drive gears |I5 are powered through shafts IIl by the bevel gears I 22 fixed to the bottom ends of the shafts and which are in mesh respectively with bevel pinions I 3U Xed on the horizontal shaft |29 at opposite sides of the machine. Shaft |29 has bearing at each side of the machine in frame bracket |24 which also affords bearing for a shaft |28 parallel to shaft I 29. A large gear |32 Xed to shaft |29 isl in mesh with the spur pinion |33 xed to shaft |28. The latter shaft further carries Xed thereto, a large pulley |34 belted to a smaller pulley I 35 which receives power froma varia-ble speed transmission contained within the casing |37 to which transmission, power may be furnished by an electric motor or other prime mover not herein shown. The hand wheel |42 represents the usual manual means for adjusting the interior mechanism of the transmission to determine the speed at which'pulley |35 is driven, thereby to control the speed of travel of the mold carrying chains of the machine in the directions of the arrows in Fig. 4. In Fig. 3 a spur gear |44 is rotatably mounted on astationary vertical pivot shaft |43 held in the bearing blocks I I9 and |24 in a manner to mesh with the rack teeth 84 on the gear blocks of both links 45 and l5 simultaneously so that the -travel of the links 'I5 of the lower chain toward the left in Fig. 3 is transmitted by gear |44 to .links l5 of the upper chain to cause the latter to travel in the' same direction and in unison therewith.

The co-pending application before referred to discloses brake means at the work discharging end (not herein shown) of the vulcanizing machine which brake means acts through additional gears enmeshed with the toothed blocks 83 of both trains of mold sections to oppose the travel of such sections toward the left in Fig. 3 .thereby insuring that the constant urging of mold sections 78 and 19 toward the left by gears II5 and |44 shall thrust each mold section tightly against its neighbor in the same train and thus prevent spaces from developing between abutting edges of adjacent mold sections. Such spaces if occurring would be admissive to the material in the manner of depositing the same within the mold cavities proposed by these improvements.

While Figs. 3 and 6 indicate the chain links 'I5 as riding upon and supported bya track of antifriction rollers |32 which may be pivoted in ball or roller bearings or in plain bearings as here shown in Fig. 6, stationary ways or other means of support may be used in their stead. Some one or more of such rollers or equivalent support means-are preferably disposed firmly to support e e a,"2`i8',"5`"27 the weighjtfor and to ceramide" positive une `or travel lfor eachmold section as it reaches and passesthe" position ini which mold section 19 is shown in Figllf` or in which the mold section 19 directly beneath'roller` 2II is shown in- Fig. 4. e

In Fig. 4 an upper steam plate |15 and a lower steam plate 1I99 `are stationed close to the path of travel of` mold `sections g 19 thereby to radiate heat to "samein both directions oftravel in Fig. 4. These steam plates extend well towardl the left end of the straightaway stretchesofthe chains of links15 so thatthe `mold sections4 ddnothave time to cool during their journey in a clockwise direction around the chainjsupporting wheels 48;y y The travelingfsheet of compound 255is `pro-` gressively directed downward toward the line `of contact` of` the traveling mold sections `19 and the roller 2`I`I` bythe mangle-like pull exerted by thesepartswhosecontaeting surfaces may travel at equal linearspeed and atta linear speed'equal to the speed of .play-olf of the sheet material from a conveyor belt 223; Roller 2I| may be slightly shorterfthanl the spac` between keys 89 which areembedded in opposite ends of mold sections each other` accurately and form closed mold chambers of predetermined crosssectional size.

Shallowv recesses 92 are sunk inthe mold face adjacent the inner uprightffaces of the keys to provideample space to receive any small amount of the sheet material severed from the extreme edges of the sheet in excessof that lodged inthe outermost molding cavities 92.

The "feeding and severing-apparatusof these improvements derives its driving.. power` from "shaft |29 of the .molding and vulcanizing machine so that the speed ofmovement of the feeding and `severing `mechanism` may be synchronized with the speed of travelof the `traveling l mold sections 15 and 18.

Fig. 2 shows the small sprocket wheel `200 fixed to the extreme outer' end of shaft |29 to be rotated in unison with gear |32. `By means of the drive `chain 20|, sprocket wheel 200 rotates a larger sprocket wheel 202 whichis fast to the end of a horizontal shaft"203`fwhich` extends crosswise the machineabove the horizontal train of `mold sections 15. `Shaft 203 has main bearings in blocks 204 bolted respectively to the under surfaces of the side arms 205 of a U-shaped apparatus support frame lbest `shown in Figs. 1 and 4, which frame is comprised lbythe said side arms 205 anda transverse member" 206 rigidly connecting them together at their extreme ends. Both theside arms 205 andthe transverse member 206 are conveniently made of channel beams whose lower ends are bolted `against. the outwardly disposed sides of the bearing caps |20 which are boltedto bearing blocks |I9 which are rigid rwith `the frame of the molding and vulcanizing machine.\ Thus, when y their concentrically aligned holding bolts 201are loosened, the side arms 205 may be pivotally adjusted about these bolts and thusraised or lowered, their dehavingthreaded engagement with an upright rod 209 `of which there is one" foreach side arm 205.

l Rods 209 are rigidlysupported by and upstand respectively from the lower channel beams I2 of themachine frame.

Additional bearinglblocks2l0 bolted to the un"-` der" surface of frame arms 205 support awater` sireziadjflamentseing maintained by nutszos `cooled roller structure 2II whose details are best shown in Fig. `5,` and `in such positionthat the outer periphery of this roller maybe caused to bear downwardly against the upper surfaces `of the moldsections 19 with any desired degree of pressure as the mold sections `travel from left to right and pass the roller in Fig. 4.

ywitn reference to Fig. 5, rouer z|| which is here shown in contracted length,` comprises a hollow tube from whose left end projects the hollow trunnion 2|2 and from whose right end projects the hollowtrunnion 2| 3, which trunnions` may bewelded or otherwise xedly secured preferably in watertight relation to the inner bore of the roller. Each of'these trunnions has "a slightly reduced diameteruat its end portion, these end portions being rotatably mounted in thebearing blocks` 210 respectively` Bushings 2I4v'carried against the shoulders of the trunnions take axial thrust in both directions.

`The projecting` trunnion 2|2 is open ended to give entrance to a waterv supply pipe 2|5 which is plugged by the cap 2 I6 at its extremity and has l spray orices 2I1 spaced along its length to give outlet for the water from pipe 2|5 to the hollow interiors of roller 2|| and its trunnions 2|2 and 2I3.` The extremity of the latter trunnion is closed so that the water thusl delivered to roller 2| I nds outlet only from the extremity of trunnion2 I2.. Trunnion 2|2 carries 4ixed thereto the spill' gear 2| 8 which is in mesh with a larger spur gear` 2|9 fastto shaft 203. The latter shaft has an auxiliary bearing in theblock 220 which is fastA to an upright post 22| rigidly supported by thevframe of the molding and vulcanizing machine. `The upper end of post 22| may be swung slightly to the right or left relative to its xed basebracket 22|'vand bearing block 220 may be shifted slightly up or down on post 22| to accord axially with the adjustable position of bearings 2|0. Elongated slots in the bracket provide for such shifting.

Between the side arms 205 of` the feeding and severing apparatus, frame shaft 203 carries the `wide pulley 222 which may be made of wood or suitably light material having a good friction surface and which supports and impels one end of the endless fabric belt 223. This belt derives auxiliary support from two smaller idler pulleys 224 ,and 225 carried respectively on shafts 226 and 221,:these shafts having bearings at each of their ends in blocks 228 and 229 respectively bolted to `the extremity of the side arms 205 of the feeding `and` severing apparatus frame.

Fig. 2 `represents the opposite end of the endless `fabric belt 223 as passing around and supported by the tightener pulley 230 rotatably mounted. between frame uprights 23| of a calender which `conditions and delivers the continuous of water. Used water, `discharged from the open end of the trunnion 2|2, may be received into a drain cup 234 having the drain pipe 235 to carry away the water.

The calender of Figs. 2 and 7, hereinbefore mentioned, comprises between the frame uprights 23| the lower hot roller 243 having fixed bearings `in theframe and the cooperative upper hot roller ,pound or similar plastic material.

244 having adjustable bearings in the frame which may be raised or lowered by the screw posts 236. Rollers 243 and 244 may be heated by any of the well known methods and means (not herein shown) suchas by the introduction of 'steam to the hollow interiors of these rollers. Preferably the rollershafts 231 and 238 each carry a gear such as 239A in Fig. '7, which gears are intermeshed to cause the rollers to rotatein opposite directions at the same speed as well understood in the art of Vcalendering.

The frame uprights Y23| are braced by tie rods 24|), of which four are shown in Fig. 2, while a fth rod 24! spans the space between the frames to provide a support rail for the replenishable bulk supply or batch4 242 of sponge rubber com- Lateral constraint for the batch 242 is afforded by the spurshaped side blocks 245 adjustably mounted on the rail 24| and serving to roughly determine the width of the calendered material 246 carried by roller 243 at the time the material passes between the two rollers. y

At this point in the travel of the calendered compound while the latter is clinging to the surface of roller 243, a suitable application of powdered material such as soapstone, starch or the like is made with the assistance of a gang of brushes 241 adjustably mounted on the machine frames 23| by means of the laterally extending bracket 248 and coextensive in length with the width of the calendered material 246. The powdered material referred to is deposited above the brushes 241 and against the surface of the traveling-compound 246. At a further station in the travel of the compound 246 while clinging to roller 243, laterally 'spaced knives 249 press upwardly against the surface of roller 243 to progressively sever or trim the calendered compound to an exact and uniform Width which may approximately equal or be slightly less than the space between keys 89 which, as before described, upstand from the cavity containing surfaces of the mold sections 19. Knives249 are fixed to hubs 25|! which are turnable on cross shaft 25| fixed at each end in the calendar -frames 23| and grooved to receive the inner end of screw 252to prevent displacement of hubs 25! lengthwise of shaft 25|. A weight 253 suspended from the outer ends of the knives 249 eirects the upward thrust of the cutting end of the knife against roller 243. The edge portions 254 of the traveling sheet of compound thus trimmed olf are allowed to drop to the floor or into any suitable container while the intermediate portion of the traveling sheet of compound 255 is received by the conveyer belt 223 and carriedaway from the calender on an upward incline as a `traveling sheet of compound having predetermined and uniform thickness and width.

`adjustable position, a second gang of brushes shut-off valve 233 .is placed to control thevflow A 258 coextensive in length with the trimmed width of the traveling sheet of compound 255. By depositing powdered material such'as hereinbefore mentioned on the traveling surface of thecompound 255 back of, or to the rightof brushes 258 in Fig. 2, the top surface of the compound is progressively coated with the powdered material in a manner similar to the coating of the under s urface of the compound by brushes 241 as before described.

y Each end of the pulley 23D which supports belt 223 is itself supported in a bearing such as 259 which may be independently moved toward the right or toward the left in Fig. 2 by turning the adjustor nut 262 on the adjuster stud 26| which passes through a stationary support bracket 262 xed to the calender frames 23|. By this means either of the lengthwise edges of the-endless belt 223 may be selectively` loosened or tightened in relation to the looseness .or tightness Vof the opposite edge, whereby the delivery end of the belt, at pulley 222, can be minutely controlled as to its running position lengthwise of the pulley 222 or in lateral relation to the traveling mold sections of the heat treating machine. v

The operation' of the combined calendering, dust applying, trimming, conveying, and segregating apparatus of these 'improvements will in the main have become apparent from the preceding description of its mechanical parts. to point out the advantages of some of its features,v the operation as a whole is reviewed as follows:

At such intervals as the supply batch of compound 242 may need replenishing, additional `batches are added to the partially consumed batch with the result that a continuous supply or" compound is fed between the calendar rollers 243 4and 244, roller 243 being constantly rotated at a slow speed by the large spur geary 263 xed on its shaft'which may be driven by a small power pinion 264 at selective speed determined byvariable speed transmission mechanism within the casing 265 powered by the electric rotor 2,65 and subject kto the speed control of the speed selecting handle 261, all as indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 7. The sheet of compound thus calendered between rollers 243 and 244 has somewhat irregular edges and is dusted by suitable powderedmaterial on one surface asfit passes the brushes 241.

On reaching the knives 249, the calendered sheet whichkis now of uniform thickness is also trimmed to `accurately determined uniform width. The edge portions are discharged downwardly as scrap while the traveling sheet of compound 255 possessing uniform and accurately determined cross sectional dimensions is received onto the top surface of traveling belt 223 with respect to which it is prevented from adhering by the coating of anti-adhesive dust previously applied. A corresponding coating of anti-adhesive powder is progressively applied to the other or top surface of the traveling sheet 255 by the brushes 258. the incline supported and conveyed by beltl223 toits highest point of travel over idler pulley 224, thence downwardly with' belt 223 to the point of its discharge therefrom at pulley 222. Fig. 2 indicates a considerable contraction of the spacing of the calender from the receiving end of the molding and vulcani-zing machine, it

being understood that in practice the stretch ofl belt 223 between its calender mounted pulley 23|) and the idler rollers 224 and 225 may be of con- In order The sheet continues its ride up,

. `ici sideralele extent-.to give ampleroom andgtime for inspection of fthe traveling sheet` of compound 255 and periodic` tests of its condition `as to thickness and the thorough dusting of all of regated and simultaneously lodged in the paral- `lel adjacent `mold cavities 92" of the moldsection which is passing roller 2H and which cavities` respectively align end to end with corresponding cavities in each` adjacent mold section of the train. Important factors in the success of this operation include the following: The roller 2|| is kept 'relatively cool byfa continuous supply to and discharge from its hollow interior,

of coldwaterthrough. pipe 2| 1, while the mold blocks 19 are kept yrelatively hot by the proximity thereto of vsteam plates |15 and |99. This prevents the compoundy from" adhering to theY surface of the roller and facilitates the lodgl ingof strips 268 .cleanly in the moldV cavities. The roller 2| l is` power driven to rotate with a linear surface speedequalto that o-f the faces of mold sections 13, whichIatter-travel toward the right as the roller2l| rotatescounterclockwise in Figo-4. Through gearsV 2|8 `and 2|9`, the

belt pulley 222 is rotated at suchspeed as to impart to the conveyor belt 223 a linearspeed of. travel also `equal to that ofthe mold sections 19. The speed of travel of the calender rolls 243 and 244 may'A be made suchifas to fdeliver the traveling sheet of compoundl 255 to the'calender end of theconveyor `belt 223 at a rate to insure against any stretching or ldistortion ofthe weak bodied compound thatvfwould tend to impair its smoothnesaor `the `uniformity of itsthickness and width.` V f l' By the above described means there is Vinsured a uniform cross sectional size ofthe segregated strips `or charges of compound 268 predeterminablysmaller than the mold chambers -`inl`whi'ch they are contained as such chambers are formed by the coming together of mold sections A1&3 and 18 in Figs. Lland 8. "'I'hroughfheat treatment while traveling within these chambers, each strip orl charge of sponge rubberfcornpound is expanded and vulcanized into the progressively generatedv cylindrical strip 269 of Fig. 6.

In order thatthe ultimately vulcanized product may have uniform porosity and a smooth' exterior surface accurately conforming to' the walls of the mold cavities this uniformity of volumetricsize of the charges introduced into the mold cavities must be attainedtand the improved apparatus herein disclosed has proven not somewhat in advance of the line of contactcf roller 2|| withthe mold-sections: `AEach *mold sectionfis lthusztshoved 'ahead ...toward the roller 'andlikewise shoves ahead the mold sectionwhich precedes it thus closing up' any space which might otherwise occur between adjacent edges of the mold sections as they pass under the roller. The

`mold sections at the left of the chain-support wheel 2|)` in Fig. 4 thereby form in effect a traveling platform havinganupper surface uninterrupted by cracks between the mold sections and which platform provides space for the feeding and `segregating apparatus of .these improveu ments to cooperate with the traveling mold'sections. The force with which 'roller ZIlbears downwardly against the.. mold sections 'as the latter ride upon track-rollers |02 or other equivalentfsupport means" maybe regulated by the adjusting" nuts 208'by swinging `the apparatus frame 205 slightly up or down about its mounting vbolts 201. By-removing `bolts 201 and the top nuts,208 and by disconnecting Ithe water supply pipe 232 and'chain. 20| the entire feeding apparatus may be quickly and conveniently removed from the molding and vulcanizing machine and replaced by a differentapparatus, or may be applied to a different molding and vulcanizing machine. In such case the fixed spacing and intergeared relationship of shaft 203 and e trunnions-ofrollerw2ll are in no way disturbed.

Links may be inserted in or removed from chain20l. i r I l r-.Whilethe cavity containing carriers or mold sections here illustrated, comprise anlarticulatedv trairiof such carriers or sections performing repeated cycles of travel past the roller 2| it will be understood "that where it is not necessary that translatory` travel be performed by the cavities for the purpose of molding or vulcanizing a product instraight form, the roller 2| l can as well be arranged to" coact withfthe heated peripheral surface of a drunff` rotating about fa fixed axis and circumferentially grooved to form the carrier cavities and traveling at linear speed equal to'that ofthe faceof the roller and revolving thereagainst. Orv such a drum together withroller 2| I maybe employed `merely to Ysever the traveling sheet 2.55 into strips,*which` strips may then contemporaneously be delivered to and progressively lodged in thecavities of the herein illustrated mold sections`92 as `a continuous process.

Such drum periphery, furthermore, may itself be comprised of a train of ,articulated carriers or mold sections Acontaining the cavities.

` The "improved feeding and segregating apparatis hereinbeforeillustrated and described will be operative in its main principles if vthLe cavities e in mold sections`19"do` not communicate end l to end but are formed 'instead' as separated `cle-- exact construction and relationship of parts herein disclosed to illustrate the present improvements and the appended claims will beunderstood as intendedto` cover all variations and equivalents Many other Vdepartures may be made from the of such constructions and arrangements as come within their terms and utilize the principles of operation herein set forth.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for converting into predetermined charges a preformed traveling sheet of expansible sponge rubber compound or like plastic material and progressively depositing said charges in traveling cavities, the combination with carriers arranged in traveling train formation and containing said cavities, of a roller stationed to revolve in rolling contact im'th said traveling carriers, a traveling conveyor separated by substantial space from said roller constructed and arranged to transport and deliver said sheet of material toa location in the neighborhood of said roller at a higher level than the line of contact of said roller with said carriers, and means to deect said conveyor into such path of travel at said location that said sheet of material is thereby played off from said conveyor downwardly through said space and into traveling contact with a portion of the periphery of said roller above and free from said carriers, whereby said sheet `is guided thereafter by said roller periphery to itsy said line of contact with said carriers.

2. In apparatus as'defined in claim 1, the combination'dened vin said claim in which the said conveyor comprises an endless traveling belt, together with common powerineans connected to impel said belt and the. said train of carriers simultaneously at the same linear speed and to `rotate said roller simultaneously at such rate that its said periphery travels with like linear speed.V

3. In apparatus as defined in claim 1, the combination defined in said claim together with heating means arranged and operative to maintain the said carriers at a relatively high temperature at their said line of lcontact with the said roller, and means constructed and operative to maintain said roller at a relatively low temperature at said line of contact, both of Said means-being arranged to leave the temperature y of said'conveyor unaffected.

. 4. Apparatus for automatically feeding to and lodging inthe entrance mouth of a traveling cavity a charge' of sponge rrubber compound too small in bulk to fill said cavity, including in combination, a traveling carrier having a working face and containing a cavity space whose mouth opensV through said working face, means to feed and to press a sheet of expansible sponge rubber compound of predetermined thickness progressively against said carrier face as the carrier travelsF and in a manner to sever a charge of said compound. from the sheet and force said charge into said cavity mouth the said cavity space being substantially deeper than said predetermined thickness. of said sheet of compound so that empty space for the expansion of said charge of compound is left therebeneath within said cavity, means to maintain the traveling carrier relatively hot inl the region of said cavity mouth for strengthening the tendency of said charge to lodge a ,dheringlyl therein thereby to compensate in` part for the inability of said charge to reach and adhere to the bottom ofthe cavity space, and means to maintain said sheet pressing means relatively cool. for weakening the tendency of said adhere to the bottom of the cavity space that the traveling carrier is enabled .toy pick said charge off from said pressing means and carry it away without requiring said cavity space to be packed full of said charge.

5. Apparatus for automatically feeding a variable bulk supply of plastic material into continually traveling carrier cavities ata predetermined volumetrio rate, including in combination, a train .of said carriers having faces containing said cavities, means to support said carriers for procession'in a path of translatory travel, spaced shoulders aligned with said path of travel and upstanding from said faces of the carriers at respective opposite lateral extremities' of the working portions of said faces, a pivotally supported roller approximately equal in length to the lateral space between said shoulders and having its peripheral face disposed to revolve in rolling contact with said working faces of said carriers, means progressively to convert said supply of material into a traveling sheet having uniform predetermined thickness, means progressively to trim said traveling sheet to uniform predetermined width approximately equal to the lateral space between said shoulders, and means continually to convey said trimmed sheet of material into proximity to said roller and to de. liver said sheet progressively tothe mutually contacting face portions of said roller and carriers and between said carrier shoulders at a speed of linear travel substantially equal to that of said carriers. 6. In apparatus for segregating charges of plastic material from a traveling sheet of said material and for simultaneously lodging said charges within one or more receiving cavities in traveling carriers, in combination, a train of said carriers having corresponding faces containing said cavities, means to support said carriers for procession in a path of translatory travel constructed and arranged to prevent rocking of said carriers out yof alignment with said path of travel as the carriers pass said support means, a pivotally supported roller having its peripheral face disposed to revolve in rolling contact with the cavity containing faces of said carriers at a point in said path of travel opposite said support means, rack-like gear teeth xed to said carriers, and a gear stationed to rotate in mesh with said teeth and powered to impel said carriers in said path of travel towardv and successively past said roller and support means.

7. In apparatus for segregating charges of plas'- tic material from a traveling sheet of said material of predetermined volumetric size and for delivering said charges into .one or more closed processing chambers formed by cooperative cavities in traveling mold sections so that the delivered bulk of said charges is incommensurate with the volumetric size of said cavities, in combination, an upper train of mold sections having downwardly disposed faces containing chamber component cavities, a lower train of mold sections having cooperative upwardly disposed faces containing chamber component cavities, means to support said upper train of mold sections for procession in a path of translatory travel, means to support said lower train .of mold sections for procession in a path of translatory travel in part coextensive with and in part extending in front of the path of travel of the upper train of mold sections thereby to provide a traveling platform comprised of a portion of the lower train of mold sections, a pivotally stationed roller supported above the said traveling platform and having its peripheral face disposed to revolve in rolling .said sheet of material progressively into riding contact with the revolving face of said roller that is remote from said upper train of lmold sections in a manner to so restrict the rate of delivery of said sheet to the mutually contacting faces of said roller and mold sections that said charges of the material are` transferred from said sheet to vsaidrmold sections in volumetric sizes incommensurate with the volumetricsize of said cavities but in selectivelydetermined pro-` portion to the volumetric sizes of, said chambers.

8. In apparatus for segregating charges of plastic material from` a traveling sheet of said material and for simultaneously lodging said charges within one or more receiving cavities in `traveling carriers, in combination, a train of said `carriers having corresponding faces containing said cavities, spaced means to support said carriersfor procession in a path of translatory travel constructed and arranged to prevent rocking of said carriers out of alignment `.with said path of travel as vthe carrierspass vsaid support means, a piv-` otally supported roller having its peripheral face disposed to revolve in rolling contact with the cavity containing facesl of said carriers at a point along said path of travel intermediate said spaced supportmeans, rack-like gear teeth fixed to said carriers, a gear stationed to rotate in mesh with said teeth and-powered to impel said carriers toward and successively past said roller in said path of travel, and a cooperative gear stationed to rotate in mesh with the teeth of said carriers which have passed said roller, together with means to oppose rotation of the said cooperative gear thereby to maintain the carriers in tightly abutting relationship as they pass said roller.

9. In combination with apparatus as defined in claim 5, a. second train of carriers supported to travel in unison with the train of carriers recited in claim 5 in abutting relation `thereto and provided with keyways aligned with the common path of travel of both trains of carriers, and keys projecting from the said faces of the carriers in the other train shaped and disposedto enter and occupy the said keyways during the travel of the said trains in unison and forming the spaced carriershoulders recited in claim 5.

. 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which the said faces of the carriers contain cavities extending to the said spaced shoulders `which upstand from said faces thereby to prevent jamming of the plastic material betweenthe ends of the said rolller and the said spaced shoulders which are contiguous thereto.`

l1. Apparatus for segregating charges of plastic material from a traveling sheetof said material and for simultaneously lodging said charges within receiving cavities of traveling carriers, embodying in combination with a train of said carriers having faces containing said cavities, track-like structure supporting `and guiding said train, a pivotally supported roller having a peripheral face disposed to revolve in rolling contact with the cavity containing'faces of said'carriers, an endless belt for conveying said sheet of material toward said roller, a pulley supporting said belt in the neighborhood of said roller, and an apparatus frame carrying bearings having relatively shiftable sections respectively for said roller and pulley and carrying said tracklike structure, whereby said roller and pulley may be adjusted in unison in relation to said train.

12. Apparatus for `segregating volumetrically controlled charges of expansibleplastic material from a traveling sheet of said material having `predetermined and uniform cross sectional shape and progressively `depositing the segregatedcharges in successive cavities in traveling carriers, embodying `in combination with carriers `arranged to move in train formation and lhavingefacesiv containing said cavities, a hollow roller rotatable innormally stationary bearings at each of its ends and having an opening extending from its hollow interior through-one of the said ends said roller having its peripheral face disposed to revolve in rolling contact with said faces of the carriers as the latter move successively therepast, a perforate iiuid supply pipe extending lengthwisefof the hollow interior of` said roller and through its said open end and sufficiently smaller than said openingto permit discharge through said opening of cooling fluid delivered to the-interior of `the roller through said perforate pipe, and a curved conveyor for..jcarrying said sheet of material so arranged and supported that its sheet conveyingy surfacetravels first toward said lindrical structure which is above and free from,

said carrier faces until the sheet arrives substantially at said line of contact of said roller with said faces. e i

13`. In combination with apparatus as dened in claim 5 means to shift the' course of lengthwise travel of the said sheet of material laterally in a manner to maintain its said predetermined width in register with the space between said carrier shoulders thereby to prevent said sheet from interfering with and climbing up on said shoulders.

14. Apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which the said section of apparatus frame carrying the said bearings for the said roller and the said pulley comprises a skeleton U-haped structure having spaced side arms pivoted at their free ends to the section of said apparatus frame which carries the said track-like structure.

15. Apparatus as dened in `claim 1l together with one or more guide pulleys for the said endless belt pivotally supported on the section of the saidapparatus frame which carries the said bearings for the said roller and the said pulley.

16. In combination with apparatusI as defined in claim 11 in which'the section of the said apparatus frame carrying the said bearings for the said roller and the said pulley is pivoted to the section `of the said apparatus frame which carries the said track-like structure, adjustable support means extending between the said two sections of the apparatus frame constructed and cated ata point-displaced a sufficient distance ahead of the rst said meansv along the line of travel of the trains thereby to expose asubstantial stretch of the lower train clear of interference by the upper train to serve as a moving platform for receiving the material to vbe conveyed into the' processing station, a roller supported to maintainits peripheral face in rolling surface contact with the cavity containing faces of the lower train of mold sections'comprising said moving platform, and means to convey said sheet of material to a point above said moving platform and then play off the same downwardly into belt-like traveling engagement with the frontmost peripheral face of said roller on the side thereof farthest from said upper train of mold sections and at a point on said roller elevated above the lower train of mold sections formingv said moving platform.

18. Apparatus for automatically feeding to and depositing in traveling carrier cavities charges of plastic'material of substantially smaller volumetric size than isy th size of said cavities, including incombination, a train of travelingfcarriers having faces containing empty cavitiesI of fixed and constant depth, means progressively to prepare and deliver to a station close to said carriers a traveling sheet of said material uniformly thinner than the depth of said cavities, meansy progressively to segregate charges of said material from Said sheet having the said thinness of said sheet, and means to lodge said thin charges respectively Within the said deeper cavities in a manner to enable said charges to depart from said traveling sheet and be conveyed away by said carriers, together with Wiper means stationed and arranged in contact with the traveling surface of said sheet of material in a manner to hold back a bulk supply of powdered lubricant manually deposited on a portion of said surface close to said wiper means and gradually to feed said lubricant to said surface in a manner progressively and evenly to coat the latter thereby to render said sheet less adherent during its delivery to the said segregating means.

LUDOLF H. DE WYK. LUDOLF H. DE WYK, JR.

CERTIFICATE CE CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,218,527. october 22.19140.

LUDOLEH. DE'WYK, ET AL.

It is hereby oertifiecl that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Pae 6, second colmn, line 5h, claim?, strike out the `words "of predetermined Volumetric size" andr insert the same before from in line 55, same claim; page "Y, first column,l line TO, claim ll, strike out "carrying bearings and insert the same after "respectively" in line 7l, same claim; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that they same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 5rd day of December, A. D. 19140.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

